Forecast Inflation Jump Comes with Doubts and Uncertainty, OCR Held at 2.25%
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand kept the Official Cash Rate at 2.25% as global uncertainty and a volatile oil market persisted. Inflation forecasts were nudged higher, with the Monetary Policy Committee expecting a 3% rise in the March quarter and 4.2% in June, assuming Dubai crude falls below $100 a barrel. Fuel supplies remain ample, covering roughly 62.6 days of demand after a 16% dip in oil prices following a Middle‑East ceasefire. Analysts note the bank is taking supply‑shock risks more seriously and may consider a rate hike later in the year.
Fuel Stocks Steady as More Diesel Arrives
New Zealand’s national fuel inventories remain robust, with at least three weeks of petrol, diesel and jet fuel on land and additional supplies en route. Total days of supply—including on‑water stocks—stand at 62.6 for petrol, 51.7 for diesel and 53.5 for...
Should the Greyhound Industry Get Compensation Following Ban?
New Zealand’s Racing Industry (Closure of Greyhound Racing) Amendment Bill, backed by Minister Winston Peters, passed its third reading in April 2026 and will ban greyhound racing from July 31 2026. The ban eliminates over 1,000 regional jobs, yet the government offers no...
Let’s Not Waste This Crisis
The article argues New Zealand’s current fuel crisis exposes the government’s reluctance to accelerate electric‑vehicle (EV) adoption and broader renewable energy investment. It contrasts NZ’s stalled policies with Spain’s rapid solar expansion, which added roughly $16.7 billion to Spain’s GDP and...
Chris Hipkins Says Advice About Covid Vaccine Risk for Teens Arrived Too Late
Former New Zealand Covid Response Minister Chris Hipkins acknowledged that advice warning of increased myocarditis risk from two Pfizer doses in 12‑17‑year‑olds arrived in November 2021, but was not presented to ministers until a March 2022 cabinet briefing when pandemic...
When Rationing Kicks In: These Are the Levels in the Four-Phase Fuel Plan
New Zealand’s government unveiled a four‑phase National Fuel Plan to manage potential shortages triggered by the war in Iran and related supply‑chain disruptions. Phase 1 involves monitoring fuel stocks while keeping access normal; Phase 2 urges voluntary conservation and tighter coordination with...
Ministers Back Down on Controversial 'Baby Fish' Law - and Bicker over Who Can Take Credit
The New Zealand government withdrew a proposal to remove minimum‑size limits for commercial fishers from the Fisheries Amendment Bill after intense backlash. Both NZ First leader Winston Peters and National Party leader Christopher Luxon posted near‑identical statements claiming they persuaded Fisheries Minister Shane Jones...
The Marsden Point Refinery Probably Wouldn’t Be the Saviour Shane Jones Is Telling You It Is. Here’s Why
New Zealand’s Marsden Point refinery shut in 2022 was a private business decision, not a direct government order as some politicians claim. The plant had supplied up to 70% of the nation’s fuel before closing, but relied on imported Middle‑Eastern...
You'll Soon Be Able to Drive or Buy Alcohol without a Physical ID, but There Is a Catch
New Zealand’s Govt.nz mobile app will soon let users display a digital driver’s licence and other photo IDs from a built‑in digital wallet. From the end of March, the app will enable digital credentials to be presented at police checkpoints,...
Here’s What the Government Probably Won’t Do About the Global Oil Squeeze
Finance Minister Nicola Willis said New Zealand is considering targeted, temporary assistance for households hit by soaring fuel prices, but ruled out broad fuel tax cuts, universal cost‑of‑living payments, or public‑transport subsidies. Any aid must avoid adding inflationary pressure, fit the...
This Would Be the Week to Drive an EV. Thanks for Nothing, Coalition
New Zealand faces a looming fuel shortage as the government reports only about 58 days of petrol and 50 days of diesel reserves amid a global oil crisis triggered by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, the coalition...